Holidays in Naples

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Naples is rich in history and full of museums, churches, and palazzos. Its old center is a Unesco World Heritage site. Very romantic are the views of the Bay across the islands of Ischia, Capri, and Procida, under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius.

Worth to visit Visit the old center walking along its main street Spaccanapoli, which means "Naples splitter" and buzzes with life. Stop at Monastero di Santa Chiara and buy a hand-made 'presepe', Christmas crib,  in Via San Gregorio Armeno. Do not miss the Cathedral where the statue of San Gennaro attracts thousands of visitors to witness the miracle of the saint's clotted blood 'liquefying' and admire also the beautiful sculpture of the Cristo Velato. Visit the superb collection of ancient Greek and Roman artifacts in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale. Enjoy Caravaggio paintings at the popular Museo di Capodimonte which is hosted in the beautiful Capodimonte Bourbon Palace. Do not miss the Galleria Umberto I,  which is one of the two covered galleries in Italy. Then enjoy Piazza Plebiscito, the San Carlo opera house and the Maschio Angioino castle, built when the city was under French domination. Shop around the chic boutiques of Via dei Mille and Piazza Amedeo and buy a traditional tie from 'Marinella'.

Food and Wine Naples is the home of the wood-oven pizza which is easy to find everywhere. The 'Margherita' is the traditional one with mozzarella cheese while the 'Marinara' has only tomato, garlic and oregano and it's called Neapolitan outside Italy. It gets its name from the pizza that the sailors and fishermen took to sea but it doesn't have any seafood in the topping!  Try also the pizzette (fried pizza) and the calzone, a fried pizza filled with cheese and salami. Do not miss the delicious 'Spaghetti a vongole', with clams and a dish of good fish and seafood. Have a Babà with Rhum or a 'Sfogliatella' as a dessert with a cup of Neapolitan espresso coffee, which is the strongest in Italy.

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